From Middle English arce-hoole, equivalent to arse + hole.

• IPA: /ˈɑː(ɹ)s.hoʊl/

arsehole

1. (Commonwealth, mildly, vulgar) The anus.

   The moment I sat on the toilet, my crap immediately came out of my arsehole.

   • 1994, G. C. Scott, His Mistress's Voice, 2010 eBook, [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=m4FwH06Rgo4C&pg=PT70&dq=%22arsehole%22+-%22arse+-about+-face%22+-intitle:%22%22&hl=en&ei=IoC6TsD9CsLLmAWs-4mVCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22arsehole%22%20-%22arse%20-about%20-face%22%20-intitle%3A%22%22&f=false unnumbered page],

     Harriet waited until she was still before striking her again, this time vertically, on the arsehole.

   • 2002, Michel Faber, The Crimson Petal and the White, Part 4: The Bosom of the Family, [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=A0lE0CJMzfMC&pg=PA533&dq=%22arsehole%22+-%22arse+-about+-face%22+-intitle:%22%22&hl=en&ei=TIq6Tqn_A8OMmQW8sPCTCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22arsehole%22%20-%22arse%20-about%20-face%22%20-intitle%3A%22%22&f=false page 533],

     Lessons aren't due to resume until two, and Sugar is longing for the respite, if only for the opportunity to remedy her physical discomforts – numb, half-frozen feet, armpits clammy with sweat, a sore and itchy arsehole.

2. (mildly, vulgar, offensive) An inconsiderate or mean-spirited person. Less vulgar and intense than fucker or cunt.

   Shut up, you big dummy! – Hey! Don't call me “big dummy”, you arsehole!

   • 2006, Donna Moore, Go to Helena Handbasket‎^{[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=UlU1G_-Jk7kC&pg=PA55&dq=%22arsehole%22+-%22arse+-about+-face%22+-intitle:%22%22&hl=en&ei=VYW6TuTXH4mZiAeomYHJBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22arsehole%22%20-%22arse%20-about%20-face%22%20-intitle%3A%22%22&f=false]}, page 55:

     “He's dead, you arsehole!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, determined to get a word in edgeways.

   • 2007, Bernice Friesen, The Book of Beasts‎^{[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=fWdabvhTvRQC&pg=PA345&dq=%22arsehole%22+-%22arse+-about+-face%22+-intitle:%22%22&hl=en&ei=YYO6TprvMYatiQffhLTRBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22arsehole%22%20-%22arse%20-about%20-face%22%20-intitle%3A%22%22&f=false]}, page 345:

     “Marilyn, ye must know that he was an arsehole as well as an idiot. Everyone must tell you that.”

3. (UK, Irish, vulgar, uncountable) A variant of the card game big two.
4. (vulgar) Alternative form of asshole

• See also Thesaurus:anus

• French: trou du cul, trou de balle, fion, rondelle, boîte à caca
• German: Arschloch
• Italian: sfintere, ano, buco del culo
• Portuguese: cu
• Russian: за́дний прохо́д

• French: con, trou du cul, trouduc
• German: Arschloch
• Italian: stronzo, coglione
• Portuguese: cuzão
• Russian: крети́н
• Spanish: gilipollas